Top policeman arrested in drug bust

Top policeman arrested in drug bust

Chiang Rai: The deputy chief of Chiang Mai's Chai Prakan police station was yesterday caught allegedly trying to traffic 800,000 methamphetamine pills and one kilogramme of crystal methamphetamine known as ya ice, police say.

Chamnan: Needed to 'pay off debts'

The total value of drugs allegedly found on the renowned crime-buster was worth around 164 million baht, police said.

Chiang Rai police arrested Pol Lt Col Chamnan Pumpaijit shortly after searching his Toyota Fortuner. The drugs were found stuffed in a suitcase inside the vehicle, police said.

Police stopped the car in the Thana Thani housing estate in Chiang Rai's Mae Sai district.

The housing estate is located near the northern Thai-Myanmar border.

Police said the senior officer admitted to picking up the drugs from Shan dealers inside Myanmar and was to deliver them to customers in Bangkok.

Pol Gen Pongsapat Pongcharoen, the deputy national police chief in charge of narcotics suppression, said Pol Lt Col Chamnan's arrest for alleged drugs trafficking had come as a shock.

"This police officer is widely known and recognised among his colleagues and bosses as one of the most experienced anti-drugs fighters in the North," he said.

Pol Lt Col Chamnan was hired for 6 million baht by drug dealers active along the Thai-Myanmar border to deliver the drugs to customers in Bangkok, Pol Gen Pongsapat said.

The officer became involved in the drug trade because he was in debt and needed the money, he said.

The police general said Pol Lt Col Chamnan was suspended pending an investigation.

A further investigation is underway to establish whether Pol Lt Col Chamnan had any accomplices from within the police force, he said.

Pol Gen Pongsapat said he will head to Chiang Rai today to oversee the investigation.

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